Vintage Audio Repair in Nanaimo
We don’t just fix equipment;
we preserve history.
Whether it’s a crackling volume knob or a total electronic overhaul, we bring the soul back to your living room. Our team of technicians treat every piece of equipment like the icon it is.
1000+
Repairs since
2022
Our Bench Time Tiers
Level 1: In-House
Deposit: $120 + Tax
Focus: Minor issues, tune-ups, belt-drive turntables, and speaker re-foaming.
Included: Cleaning, visual inspection, and up to 2 hours of labor.
Level 2: Intermediate
Deposit: $180 + Tax
Focus: Direct-drive units, cassette decks, and complex mechanical gear. Includes partially disassembled or previously repaired Units
Included: Advanced troubleshooting at specialized facilities with high-fidelity test gear, and up to 2 hours of labor.
Level 3: Advanced
Deposit: $240 + Tax
Focus: Power failure, channel distortion, and intermittent faults. Required for all partially disassembled Amps/Receivers or those with prior unsuccessful repair attempts.
Included: In-depth schematic research and specialized internal diagnostics.
Vintage Audio Repair & Restoration
Precision Repairs for Classic Sound
Modern repair is about swapping boards and crossing fingers.
Vintage restoration is about understanding the physics of sound.
Vintage restoration is about understanding the physics of sound.
At Sound Heritage, we practice component-level repair, not board-swapping. We dive into the discrete circuitry of your gear, testing individual capacitors, transistors, and resistors to find the exact source of failure. This preserves the original voice of your equipment and prevents unnecessary waste.
The Tools of the Trade
- Oscilloscopes: To see the audio signal and trace distortion back to its source.
- Distortion Analyzers: Ensuring your THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) is as low—or lower—than the day it left the showroom floor in 1976.
- Variable AC Power (Variacs): To safely wake up units that without blowing the transformers.
- Voltage Monitoring: Long-term to find intermittent faults
The Result: Your gear doesn’t just work again; it performs with the clarity and punch it was designed for.
Our Repair Process
Intake & Deposit
Pay your diagnostic deposit to secure your spot on the bench. This covers the first 2 hours of expert bench time.
Diagnosis
We use test equipment to find the exact source of failure and assess needed repairs.
Repair & Testing
We repair faulty components wherever possible, and install replacement parts as needed.
Detailed Reporting
Level 2 and 3 repairs receive a comprehensive Service Report outlining faults and fixes.
Intake & Deposit
Pay your diagnostic deposit to secure your spot on the bench. This covers the first 2 hours of expert bench time.
Diagnosis
We use test equipment to find the exact source of failure and assess needed repairs.
Repair & Testing
We repair faulty components wherever possible, and install replacement parts as needed.
Detailed Reporting
Level 2 and 3 repairs receive a comprehensive Service Report outlining faults and fixes.
Specialized Care for:
Vintage Audio Repair & Restoration
Our Two-Month Warranty
We stand behind our work with a two-month warranty that covers the specific fault(s) directly related to your original repair.
- Priority Service: Verified warranty issues receive priority placement in our repair queue.
- Covered Labor: Includes up to 2 hours of assessment and repair time for verified warranty-related issues.
The "No Problem Found" (NPF) Policy
If we are unable to confirm your reported issue after 1 hour of diagnostic bench time, we provide three options:
Store Credit
Receive 50% of your deposit back as in-store credit.
Partial Refund
Receive a 25% refund of your deposit.
Continue Testing
Authorize further investigation for deeper testing and reporting
The Assessment Guarantee
If you choose not to proceed with repairs after an assessment, or if your unit is deemed Beyond Economic Repair (unrepairable), you still receive your choice of a 50% in-store credit or a 25% refund of your deposit.
Testimonials
With more than 340 glowing reviews, our customers say it best.
★★★★★
Strongly recommended. Nathan and his staff gave great advice on a used turntable, and sold it to me at a very fair price. They even demonstrated it in the store. Picked up a new record while there; the vinyl was like new. They are friendly, personable, and welcomed us in even though I didn't think I was going to buy anything that day. I will be back for records, and more equipment. Thanks!
★★★★★
Nathan and the team at Sound Heritage were amazing. I have a vintage and rare turntable brought over from the UK and I couldn’t get the machine to operate correctly. Sound Heritage took on the responsibility and kept me updated on the progress. They have brought the turntable back to life and it’s playing better than ever. Fantastic job well done and I would happily use their services again. Plus the shop has a great selection of vinyl and cool vintage HiFi for sale.
★★★★★
Great shop with good selection of used vinyl. We were visiting from out of town and were glad we stopped in. Nathan was super personable and generous, and we came away with many gems. We will be back!
★★★★★
if i could give more than 5 stars i would !! i came from vancouver planning to get just a record player, but left with said record player, receiver, and a couple of records. nathan was incredibly helpful and so kind - he clearly knows and loves his stuff, and the community he’s built there was evident in the half-hour or so i spent there. i would gladly make the trip across to come and visit again!
★★★★★
Nathan spent over an hour with me going over a dozen different combinations for my first Hi-Fi system. He showed me what to look for used in everything from amps, tuners, and receivers, to speaker builds and I left with a whole system and I couldn't be happier! Prices were competitive with facebook but with better service and guaranteed performance.
★★★★★
The best place around for vintage hi-fi audio gear and servicing/repairs. Fantastic selection of vinyl with incredible management! Nathan and his team are extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Sound Heritage is a true gem for the community of Nanaimo.
★★★★★
Great staff looked over my sae 2300 cleaned and checked everything fair price also bought a sae receiver that i am very happy with,thanks again Nathan I will be back for any service I may need on vintage stuff.
★★★★★
Honestly had the best experience, Nathan was beyond helpful to my partner and I who were new to owning a record player, he shared his knowledge and showed us how to set it up before we took it home. 10/10 would recommend. Thanks again!
★★★★★
Serviced my thirty-eight year old amp and preamp. Full diagnostic and reporting, good as new. Quality used audio equipment, cd's, records and tapes. Left with a new to me cd player 🙂
Friendly staff and professional.
★★★★★
Went into today with my son and Nathan was awesome. Helped get him set up with a record player, speakers and a couple records at a great price. Super helpful and even stayed open a bit late for us. Thanks for being awesome.
★★★★★
If you are looking to get into vynal or your looking to upgrade your system, this is the place to go. There are not many stores that offer a selection of vintage gear, but this is the best there is. Nathan will help you find what you are looking for. He will even let you test anything in the store. Also a great selection of vynal, tape and cd's if you're looking to add to your collection.
Ready to bring your gear back to life?
- Visit Us: 33 Victoria Crescent, Nanaimo
- Call: (250) 754-7877.
- Pickup Policy: Every completed repair includes a comprehensive Equipment Service Report. Whenever possible, we’ll set your gear up on our in-store system for a live demonstration so you can hear the results before you head home.
